List of equipment carried

[bicyclerider]

Does anyone have a detailed list of gear and equipment they transported across via the southern tier?
I'll be pulling a bob trailer witha extremely light load. please also direct me to any journals people have made while riding the southern tier.


Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida

[biker_james]

I would check outhttp://www.crazyguyonabike.com . You can search out equipment lists, and a lot of tother infor for the trip you are looking at.

[bicyclerider]

Thanks for the link. I did a search by a couple of diffrent methods.
bob trailer, southern tier and a combination of the two southern tier and bob trailer.
Of the 49 journals that poped up 5 of those were with a little info about the bob trailer.
So many people using panniers.
A lot of people saying the weight was alot to pull up those hills.
So I'm back to asking the same question of adventure cycling group leaders and riders who have used a bob to carry their load. What was the list of things carried, their weight and what was the total weight carried using the bob alone.
I've done google search and so far people haven't been weighing the contents just listing them.
So adventure cycling who would you say has documented this very important aspect of long distance cycling?
I truely understand the meaning of some travel lightly and others heavy. I'm just trying to iron it out t0 be energy effecient.


Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida

This message was edited by bicyclerider on 8-16-06 @ 5:48 AM

[RussellSeaton]

"What was the list of things carried, their weight and what was the total weight carried using the bob alone.
 
So adventure cycling who would you say has documented this very important aspect of long distance cycling?"

Its not important for long distance cycling.  Heinz Stucke carries about 100 pounds of stuff on his bike and has been biking for 40 years or so now.  With only 3 speeds too.  If weight bothers you during the ride you cope with it in several different ways.  1. Ride fewer miles each day.  2. Pick a flatter route.  3. Get rid of some of the extra weight.

If weight is a concern to YOU, then I would suggest a controlled experiment before the ride.  Load up the BOB with gallon milk jugs with water.  8 pounds each.  Go ride one of the cross state week long rides.  See how you do during the ride.  The multi day aspect is important due to the accumulative affect.  From this information you will be able to judge what your weight limits are.  Then round up all the stuff you want to take on the ride and weigh it.  Then either add or remove stuff to get to your weight limit.

Personally I've never paid too much attention to the weight of my baggage.  I suspect it was somewhere around 40-50 pounds or so.  And then I would add 5 quarts of Gatorade, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 jar of jelly, 1 load of bread on certain days without services.  An extra 13 pounds.  I never recall being extra slow due to the increased 25% baggage weight.  Now, it would be really nice if it was much, much lighter, and maybe the next trip will be.

[bicyclerider]

thank you for your input

Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida

[pmspirito]

I think you just have to start a pile of the stuff you know you NEED, then make a pile of what you WANT. Load it on the bike and go for a ride. I am still trying to get my load smaller. Note I said smaller not lighter. I am trying to have less bulk. But I don't want to sacrifice too much comfort.  Why save 10 ounces on a thinner sleeping pad and then never get a decent nights sleep.  Why save a pound on a tiny bivowac tent and be trapped in it during 2 days of solid heavy rain instead of a roomy 2 man tent you can sit up in. When it comes to tools and parts I am a believer that the tools and parts you carry you will never need.  And that is a good thing.  :p  Always carry toilet paper and money. :p

best wishes from the back of the pack,  Peter & Judy Spirito

[RussellSeaton]

The Cyclists Yellow Pages, publication by Adventure Cycling, has a detailed list of items to carry on loaded tours.  It would be a good place to start for a list.  For the Southern Tier route you could maybe dispense with some of the colder weather items depending on when you crossed the Rockies in Arizona/New Mexico.  Or send it home once over the mountains.

As for specific equipment requirements for the Southern Tier route, maybe you would need the ability to carry more water because distances between towns is greater in the desert areas of CA, AZ, NM, TX.  But the Great Plains crossed by Northern Tier and TransAm also has vast stretches with no water too.  Extra sun protection may be a need.  But there is plenty of sun up north too.  Might be able to eliminate the sleeping bag once through the mountains on the Southern Tier.  All ways to lighten your load if weight is a concern.

[TheDaltonBoys]

In short what pmspirito said and in tandem (pardon) with AC's recommendation of 25-30 lbs/12.5-15 kgs for either panniers or BoBs. I use a BoB and have found that it is quite easy to overload with stuff that stays in the sack all trip. The actual item list varies little between panniers, and BoB's for a long trip...its the conveyance that differs what with that extra wheel. Panniers have more than less a finite amount of space so unless loaded with much canned SPAM... I do subscribe to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers notion on most anything....better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it a.k.a. being in a too small tent for 2 days of a monsoon rain. Enjoy the voyage...Mark of the Dalton Boys

[Badger]

I have always heard that experience is a tough teacher it gives you the example before the lesson.  Your ride will teach you what you use and what you don't.  Have a good and safe ride.

[bicyclerider]

badger
I have ridden the souther tier as a modified route
http://bicycletour.bicyclejournals.net/2006/07/15/pedaling-across-the-southern-tier-1999/
so my choices are mixed. So I'm trying to improve for the trip with a group of people. I won't just be thinking of myself.

Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida